This book – by one of the most knowledgeable scholars of our era – Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih al Uthaymeen – clears up many misconceptions and explains wonderfully the correct way to understand many oft-misunderstood verses of the Quran and ahaadeeth. It is a must have for the home library. It may be purchased from here – http://www.troid.ca/store/exemplary-principles-concerning-the-beautiful-names-and-attributes-of-allaah-revised-2nd-edition.html

A summer course based on this book was given in 2010 and the mp3s from that course may be listened to from here:

[ Their claim: “The apparent meaning of these Verses is that Nooh’s ship sailed inside of Allaah’s Eye, and that Moosa (Moses) was raised on top of Allaah’s Eye! Obviously, this is not intended, so they must have been explained based on other than their apparent meanings.”]4

The response: Both of these Verses are to be understood based on their literal and apparent meanings, but what exactly are the literal and apparent meanings of these words?

Can it be said that the literal and apparent meaning is that Nooh’s ship sailed inside of Allaah’s Eye? Or that Moosaa (Moses) was raised on top of the Eye of Allaah, The Exalted?

Or can it be said that the ship was sailing while Allaah’s Eye watched over it and protected it? Likewise, can it be said that the upbringing of Moosaa (Moses) was by way of the Eye of Allaah, as He watched over Him and protected him?

Verily, the first idea is falsehood from two angles.

Firstly, it cannot be understood from the phrases used, based on the Arabic language, while the Qur’aan was revealed in the language of the Arabs. Allah, The Exalted, has said:

إِتَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ

“Verily, We have sent it down, an Arabic Quran, so that you might use your intellect.”5

“The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel) came down with it (the revelation) upon your heart, so that you would become from the warners, in a clear Arabic tongue.”6

Regarding someone’s statement, ( فلان يسير بعيني ) “So-and-So traverse upon my eye,” no one understands from it that So-and-So is actually traversing inside of his eye.

Also, as for someone’s statement, ( فلان تخرّج على عيني ) “So-and-So graduated upon my eye,”7 then no one understands from it that So-and-So graduated while riding on top of his eye!

If someone claimed that these were the intended meanings of these phrases, even the foolish people would laugh at him, not to mention the intelligent people.

Secondly, the first meaning mentioned is totally impossible, and no one who knows Allaah and respects Him with the respect He is due would understand something like this about Him. That is because Allaah, The Exalted, is established above His Throne, separate from His Creation. Nothing He created is found within Him, nor is He found within His Creation. Allaah is Exalted far above such a thing.

When the futility of this becomes known from both a linguistic and contextual standpoint, then it is obvious that the specific meaning and apparent understanding is the second understanding – that the ship sailed while the Eye of Allaah watched over it and protected it. Similarly, the upbringing of Moosaa (Moses) was done upon the Eye of Allaah, as He watched over him and protected him.

This is the meaning of what some of the Salaf said, explaining the meaning of the Verses as, ‘By My Overseeing,’ since Allaah, the Exalted, protected him with His Eye, which necessitates that He oversaw him. This direct conclusion of the meaning is correct, and it is to be considered part of the meaning, as is known by one’s application of the evidences by way of mutaabaqah, tadam-mum, and iltizaam.8”

pp. 161-3

The Second Example

“The Hearts of the Servants are Between Two of Ar-Rahman’s Fingers”

[Their claim: ‘The apparent meaning of this hadeeth is that Allaah is touching His creation or mixed in with them to some degree so it must be explained based on other than its apparent meaning.’]9

The response: This hadeeth is authentic. Imaam Muslim collected it in the second chapter of his Book of Qadr, on the authority of ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr Ibnil-‘Aas, who heard the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) saying:

So the Salaf, Ahlus Sunnah, understood the hadeeth based on its apparent meaning and said, ‘Verily, Allaah, the Exalted, has real Fingers that we affirm just as His Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) affirmed them.’

The presence of the hearts of the descendants of Aadam between Allaah’s Fingers does not necessitate that Allaah is physically touching them. So it can not be said that the apparent meaning of this hadeeth implies that Allaah is within or part of His Creation. There is no need to explain the hadeeth by other than its apparent meaning.

Look to the clouds that are suspended between the heavens and the earth, they do not touch the sky, nor do they touch the earth. And it can be said that the full moon is between Makkah and al-Madeenah, while it is quite distant from both cities.

So the hearts of the descendants of Aadam are truly between two of ar-Rahmaan’s Fingers. This does not necessitate that Allaah is physically touching His Creation, nor does it necessitate that He is inside of it.”

7These phrases are commonly used in Arabic, however they may sound strange to the English reader. The Shaikh was using clear, everyday examples of how the Arabs use the word ‘eye’ in the context similar to the verses mentioned. Similarly, we say in English, “I’m keeping So-and-So in my eye,” or, “Keep an eye on So-and-So, he’s trouble.” Clearly, no one understands from it that So-and-So is actually inside or on top of anyone’s eye from these utterances.